Wheel mounting



w. F. HEROLD 2,258,359

' WHEEL MOUNTING Filed Dec. 21, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l a a6. llllki Oct. 7, 1941. -w. F. HEROLD- WHEEL MOUNTING Filed lies. 21, 1959.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I UNITED STAT Patented Oct. 7, 1941 WHEEL MOUNTING 'Walter F. Herold; Bridgeport, Conn, assignor to The Bassick Company, Bridgeport, Conn, a w corporation of Connecticut Application ecember 21, 1939; Serial No. 310.406 (oi. 301- 136) 23 Claims.

T is invention relates to w eel mountings, and

it has special referen e to a resilient wheel mounting for bicycles. More particularly the invention' relates to a Wheel mounting intended primarily for use in connection with the front wheels of bicycles. I l V One of the objects which I have in view is the provision or improved means for taking. u shocks encountered by the front or steering wheels of bicycles, thus furnishing for bicycles what is in errecte knee-action device, permitting the front wheel to rise. against the. action of a suitably tnsioned elastic or resilient.member in order to pass over bumps and roughness in the road. {Another object is to provide a device of this nature which enables the bicycle to be propelled more comfortably and with less expenditure of effort. U

- ,Another purpose which I have. in view is the provision of a resilient mounting applicable to l standard bicycles without necessitating any ma- Jor-changes in their construction. 0 Another desirablefeature of myimproved device is that it is of practically fool-proof construction, and after being adjusted at the factory cannot readily be tampered with so. as to in- Jure itor render its operation less satisfactory. flfothese and other ends theinventionconsists the novel features and combinations of;parts to be hereinafter described and claimedithe accompanying drawings: i -Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle front wheel mounting embodying. my improvements, showing the parts as they appear when the wheel is free of load; as for example where it is lifted off the ground;

Fig: 2 is a similar; View showing theposition of the parts under substantial load, as when the wheel rolls over a sharp bump or upward projeotion in the road;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on Fig. 1;

"Fig.4 is an end elevation showing certain parts appearing in Fig. '3; other parts being omitted;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5- -5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig; '7 is a detail of the axle and the rubber blocks provided thereon showing the axle as it appears before assembly; A l i Fig; 8 is an exploded perspective view of the rubber containingcylindric-al block or body and certain parts in association therewith;

Fig. 9is an exploded perspective view showing line 3--3 of the hollow hub, the cylindrical body, and parts 5 for securing the body in the hub;

Fig. 10 is a detail of the lock washer for the adjusting nut associated with the fork; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary inside face view of one of the guard members on a reduced scale.

In the drawings I have shown a preferred form of knee-action device such as employed in corrnection with the front fork of a bicycle. In the drawings the fork is shown at H and the,,wheel axle at l2. The fork is or can be of standard form and is swivelledin the usual. manner to turn about an axis forwardly and downwardly inclined. The wheel has a hollow hub l3 to the ends of which are connectedthe usual wire spokes 14. The hub 13 accommodates a cylindricalbody disk-like guard members l8 of extended area whlch flinctio'n in the manner hereinafter. described, thesemefnbers being locatediin the spaces between the inner faces of the fork and the ends of the hub structure.

Referring now to the details, it Will be'observed that the hub l3 comprises three parts, namely, a central tubular part 13, and end bearing cups l9 whose inner ends may be secured to the ends of member I31 in a suitable manner, as by swaging, the swaged connection being in dicated at 20. The cups l9 are provided with inner faces 2| for seating anti-friction balls 22, and the anti-friction balls 22 are contacted. by curved race portions 23 at the innerends of bearing retainers 24. The bearing retainers 24 have internal threads 25 engaging external threads 26 on the cylindrical body 15, and the retainers can be screwed up on the cylindrical body to position the balls 22 with a proper amount of play in order that the wheel hub maybe mounted for free rotation on the cylindrical body I5. The retainers 24 are provided at the sides with flattened portions or shoulders 24 best shown in Fig. 9,- so that by the use of a suitable tool these retainers can be readily screwed into position. After being screwed into position each of which the guard members H! are held in place on the ends of the cylindrical body.

It will be observed that'the members M are preferably somewhat dished so as to provide a cross-section that is concavo-convex, the convexity being toward the outer side of-the wheel. It will be noted, moreover, that the lock nuts 29, previously mentioned, are located closely adjacent the endsof member I5, while members H! are placed against the end faces of body l5. Thus as the members |8 are of relatively extended area, having in practice a diameter of say four and a half inches, while the nuts 29 have a diameter of say one and. two-thirds inches, and as the members |8 have inwardly bent rim portions i the nuts 29 are well housed and protected by members l8. Furthermore, tampering with the lock nuts 29 by unauthorized persons, is rendered less likely. Preferably each guard member has a body 8 lying in a single plane and abutted against the adjacent end face of member I5, the portions I8 being inclined at a manner in which squared-01f portion 42 engages the slotted fork is shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

After the nut has been adjusted to provide for rotation of body l5 in the proper manner, it can be locked in place at the factory so as to prevent subsequent tampering therewith, and the preferred manner of effecting this result is as follows: The squared-off portion 42is provided at the ends, adjacent the flange 4| .J5With arcuate grooves 46. These are adapted to be engaged by "a lock washer 41, shown in detail in Fig. 10.

Initially the washer 41 has the form shown in Fig. 10, and it is provided with an opening 48 which enables it to be slipped over the squared-off projection of the adjusting nut. Extending inwardly into the opening 48 is a small lug 49 slight angle, as shown. The guard member is of substantially larger diam'eter than the adjacent spoke-receiving flange on the hub which is the hub portion of maximum diameter. As shown in Fig. 11, the guard member is positioned relatively to member l5 by having an opening 35eccentric will prevent the rotation of the guard member relatively to body I5 and secure the guard member firmly in position.

Ateach end of the axle. |2 the same is supported centrally in bore I6 by means now to be described. Fitting within the open end of the bore is a self-lubricating bushing 39 of graphite bronze or similar material having a body which projects into the bore I6 to a certain extent, and

having an integral out-turned flange 39Wwhich extends over the mouth of the bore and engages the end face of body 15. The'bu shing 39 receives and is interiorly supportedby an adjusting nut 40 having threads 46 engaging threads 40 provided on the end portion ,of the axle. The nut 40 is placed adjacent the inner face of the adjacent fork leg. This adjusting nut 4|! preferably has the special conformation best shown in Figs. 3, 5, 6' and 8. It has a body 4| on which the bushing 36 is mounted, and at its forward end portion it is provided with a flange 4| of round formation against which rests the flange of the bushing. In front of the round flange 4| the fork leg, so that the nut and fork leg are non-rotatively engaged with each other.

end portion of the axle so as to prevent the rotation of the washer relatively to the axle. Initially the washer has diametrically opposite portions 5| presenting bumps of projections 52 .at the periphery of the washer. 'After the nut has been properly adjusted on the axle, however, and the washer placed in position, the washer isdeforme'd by having its bumps 52 pressed inwardly or radially, the effect of which is to, bring portions of the washer, indicated at 53 in Fig. 10, into locking engagement with the grooves 46, previously mentioned- The nut, therefore, cannotbe further adjusted without breaking the washer, and the manner of releasing the nut' is not obvious. The washer is at the rear ofthe fork engaging portion of the nut, which is a somewhat protected location, and the outer edge of "the washer is smooth and round. The nut is held against turning by the engagement oflug 49in the groove of the axle, and the washer, after being deformed, cannot be moved axially relatively to the nut. As the nut is non-rotatively engaged with the fork, the axle, which is the inner member of the torsion joint, is held stationary. On the outer end of the axle the customary lock washer 54 and the customary nut 55 are employed, the fork leg being held between these members and the adjusting nut.

The rubber mass 'or'body previously men;-

-tioned is preferably a duplex body. Before assemblage the axle has the appearance shown in Fig. '7, the middle portionhaving bonded thereto round rubber blocks 56, which are spaced from.

each other to a substantial extent. The rubber bodies 56 are bonded to the axle as by being vulcanized thereon. In' the assemblage, the members 56 are forced into the bore |6 under great pressure, reducing the diameter of" the rubber bodies substantially and deforming'them so that at their inner ends they are approximately in contact, as shown in Fig. 3. The rubberis substantially bonded to the inner surface of the bore l6 by reason of the compressing and stressing of the rubber by being placed in the bore, which causes a very considerable surface'fric tion to be created between the bore wall and the rubber. While the rubber body is extended in the bore so that it is adjacent the ends of the bore, it is preferred to have the extremlties'of the rubber body spaced inwardly to some extent from the members closing the ends of the bore, as shown in Fig. 3.

It is believed that the manner of assembling the device will be apparent for the most part from the foregoing description. In assembling the axle and rubbers with the hub, the axle is forced into place by the use of an hydraulic press, a funnel-shaped guide being employedto facili-.

(Fig. 1) to a certain extent.

quires no attention for long periods.

.tate insertion, and the rubber mass being suitably lubricated, as by application of a lubricant which will later be absorbed. It will beevident resisted by the rubber body, which is under .heavy stress, and which provides a quick build-up of counter-pressure as the body ii is turned relatively to the axis. This will enable the front wheel of the bicycle to pass over bumps, stones and the like, more easily and comfortably than yheretofore, as the shocks are well taken up in the rubber of the torsion joint. Preferably the parts will be so arranged that when the bicycle "wheel is lifted off of the road and is entirely free from load, the parts will have a position such as indicated in Fig. 1, from which it will beobserved that that portion of body I5 which is of greatest radial measurement from the axle axis is below the axis and very slightly to the rear thereof. When the wheel is placed on the road so as to carry weight, there will be a turning movement of the body 15 in a counter-clockwise direction And, in running against a sharp bump or projection and subjecting the wheel to suddenly increased load, there will be a further deflection of the body I5, say to a position such as shown in Fig. 2. After the bump has been passed, the parts are restored in an obvious manner to the normalrunning position.- As the body i5 is deflected, the wheel rises so as to have a sort of knee action. Fig. 2 shows the wheel raised, but not at the upper limit of its movement. It will be understood that the wheel will accommodate itself to the .road and to changes of load, changing its position constantly. In a bicycle, the amplitude of vertical cushioned movement of the wheel may be of the order of one inch, for example. c

It will be understood that the body member 15 turns on the bushing 39, and that therefore the bearing for the body member provided by the inner member or axle is self-lubricated and re- Theball bearings for the wheel hub can be lubricated from an oil nipple 58 carried by the portion l3. Obviously no lubrication of the torsional joint will be required. In operation the device will be free of any objectionable noise.

The guard members [8 not only serve to prevent tampering with the bearings between the body-;member and the wheel hub or shell, as previously described, but they serve to enclose and protect from splashing and the like, vari:

ous parts at the ends of the hub structure. As

these guard members are fixed to the body member in which the rubber is confined, they may also serve as a means for indicating visually the fact that the device is in good operating condition.. What I prefer to do, and what I consider pointer may have a pointing indication 51 ad'- jacent the periphery of the disk at at least one point. If, for example, the disk has a chromium finish, and a pointer indication is provided by applying thereto a dark enamel, the pointer will be readily visible. Owing to the fact that the disk is of relatively large diameter so thatv its travel at the periphery thereof is greatly in excess of the "up and down movement of the cylindrical body and the wheel, there will "be an amplified indication, moreover, of the up and down movement, and hence when the device is functioning properly, that fact will be visually to distinctly advantageous, is to provide the outer indicated by the amplitudeof the arcs through which the pointer travels.

While in the drawings the pointer is provided by placing on the disk a V-shaped figure, many and various other ways of securing the desired result will suggest themselves.

A device such as herein described not only softens road shocks, but also has the important advantage of reducing the amount of power required to propel the bicycle, owing to the fact that .a bicycle provided with such a device will be more readily pushed over a sharp bump or obstacle. The front wheel has no propelling power applied to it directly, and therefore in the ordinary construction of bicycle a considerable amount of power is required to push the front wheel over a bump. According to the present invention the impact of the wheel against a bump or projection causes the wheel to be de- 'flected or swung in an upward and rearward direction, which greatly expedites the travel of the machine, while at the same time adding to the comfort of the rider.

The use of rubber in the torsional joint enables the reaction pressure to be built up very rapidly in a relatively small amplitude of movement.

It will be apparent that in using my improvement the main parts of the bicycle may be of a standard type, the chief modifications necessary being in the hub structure of the front wheel. My improvements can, therefore, be readily incorporated in present day bicycles. In some cases the slotting of the fork ends is not necessary.

. It will now appear from the description that I .have provided a torsional joint of which the inner member is the axle proper which directly carries the rubberblock or blocks that act as the intermediate, resilient member, while the outer member is constituted by the cylindrical body having the eccentric bore for the rubber mass and-the axle. The cylindrical body is mounted for rotation in a hollow hub or shell having endmembers which provide races for ball bearings the other races of which are carried .by members-screwing up on the ends of the cylindrical body and protected by the disk-like guard members. The :outer member of the torsional joint has a bearing on the inner member thereof provided by the bearing ring, the bearing being within the ends of the eccentric bore, and being supported interiorly by the adjusting nut, the ends of the eccentric bore being closed by members which are adjustable. It is of advantage to have the inner member'of the joint a solid memberacting as the axle proper. The end closing members for the eccentric bore are non-rotatably engaged with the axle (for example, by a lock washer such as 4l), a-nd thus by non-rotatively engaging the adjustable bearing or closure members with the supporting fork by means such asslots provided in the fork ends, the axle is held stationary in the fork so as to act as the fixed or stationary member of the joint.

It is an advantage that the guard members are independent of the bearings which they enclose andlprotect, and can be secured in position on the ends of the cylindrical body after 'the bearings have been set up and the spokes have b'een attached to the hub. The means for attaching the guard member to the cylindrical body is simple and effective.

Although I have shown herein only one form of the improved device, it will be understood that 'many modifications and changes in the organizaof rubber confined between the other members under high compression and stress, said outer member having an'eccentric bore in which the rubber is disposed, said inner member being constituted by a solid axle member to which the rubber is directly vulcanized, journals for said outer member carried by said axle member in the ends of said bore, and awheel hub structure in which the outer member is mounted to turn.

2."In a wheel mounting, a torsion joint comprising an inner member, an outer member, and an intermediate member constituted by a body of rubber confined between the other members under high compression and stress, said outer member having an open-ended eccentric bore in which the rubber is disposed in elongated sleeve form, said inner member being constituted by a solid axle member to which the rubber is directly vulcanized, means confining said body of rubber against displacement from the bore ends, said means providing endwise adjustable bearings for the end portions of said outer member, and a wheel hub structure mounted to turn on the outer member. a

3. In a wheel mounting, the combination of a torsion joint comprising inner, intermediate and outer members, the inner member being the wheel axle and the intermediate member being a body of rubber closely confined in an eccentric longitudinal bore in the outer member, a hollow wheel hub within which th outer member is disposed, and ball bearings having race members carried respectively by the ends of the hub and the ends of the outer member, said outer member having within the ends of the eccentric bore and adjacent the ends of said rubber body thrust bearings by which it is supported from said inner member.

4'. In a Wheel mounting, atorsion joint comprising inner, intermediate and outer members, the inner member being constituted by a solid ,axle, the intermediate member being constituted by abody of rubber bonded to said axle, and the router member being constituted by a cylindrical body having an eccentric longitudinal bore in which the other members of the joint are disposed, a wheel hub mounted to rotate about said outer member, and self-lubricating bearings for said outer member within the end portions of the the inner member beingconstituted by an axle,

the intermediate member being constituted by a rubber body bonded to said axle, and the outermember being constituted by a cylindrical body having an eccentric longitudinal bore in which the other members are disposed, and adjustabl means on the axle closing the ends of the bore.

7. In a wheel mounting, a torsion joint comprising inner, intermediate and outer members, the inner member beingconstituted by an axle, the intermediate member being constituted by a rubber body bonded to said axle, and the outer member being constituted by a cylindrical body having an eccentric longitudinal bore in which the other members are disposed, adjustable means on the axle closing the ends of the bore, said means including bushings engaging the internalsurface of the bore and adjusting nuts on the axle interiorly supporting the bushings.

8. In a wheel mounting, a torsion joint com prising inner, intermediate and outer members, th inner member being constituted by an axle, the intermediate member being constituted by a rubber body bonded to said axle, and the outer memberbeing constituted by a cylindrical body having an eccentric longitudinal bore in which the other members are disposed, adjustable means on the axle closing the ends of the bore, said means including bushings engaging the internal surface of th bore and adjusting nuts on the axl interiorly supporting the bushings, said adjusting nuts having provisions by which they are non-rotatively locked to the axle. 9. In a wheel mounting, a torsion joint including an axle, a body of rubber bonded thereto, and a cylindrical member having an eccentric longitudinal bore in which said axle and said rubber body are disposed, a wheel hub mounted to turn about the cylindrical body, said axle having at the nd a longitudinal groove, a bearing in the end of the bore, an adjusting nut having threads engaging threads on the axle, a fork member having a slotted end engaging .a flattened-01f projection on the adjusting nut, and a lock washer for the adjusting nut having a lug engaging the longitudinal axle groove, said lock washer being deformable to lock the nut permanently after ad.- justrnentr 10. In a wheel mounting, an axlemember, a .rubber body bonded to the axle member, a cylindrical body having an eccentric longitudinal borein which said axle member and said rubber body are disposed, adjustable bearing members in the end-portions of the bore providing for the rotation of the cylindrical body relatively to the axle, means for supporting the bearing members, and means for fixing said bearing members in position after they have been adjusted.

11. In a wheel mounting of the torsion joint type'in which there is an inner axle member and an outer member having an eccentric bore for receiving the inner member, an adjustable closure member movable on said inner member into position at the end of said bore, and means deformable'after adjustment of said member and thereafter unreleasable without breakage *forholding it permanentlyin the adjusted position. i

12, 121 -a wheel mountingan axle member, a rubber body bonded to the axlemember, a cylindrlcalbody having an eccentric longitudinal openended bore in which said axle member andjsaid rubber body are disposed, therubber body-termi hating-shorter the ends of the bore, adjustable hollow bearing members surrounding the axle in thee'nd portionsoi the bore spaced outwardly from the axle andproviding for the rotation of the cylindrical body relatively to the axle, means for interiorly supportingand adjusting said bear-- *members, and means for preventing movementof said last-named means after the same has-been adjusted.

13. In a wheel mounting, a torsion joint comprising an inner member, an outer member, and an intermediate member constituted by a body of rubber confined between the other members under high compression and stress, said outer member having an eccentric bore in which the rubber is disposed, said inner member being constituted by an axle member to which the rubber is directly vulcanized, journals for said outer member carried by said axle member in the ends of said bore, a wheel hub structure in which the outer member is mounted to turn, and disk-like shield members applied to the ends of said outer member around said journals.

14. In a wheel mounting, a torsion joint comprising an inner member, an outer member, and an intermediate resilient member confined between the other members, said outer member having an eccentric bore in which the resilient member is disposed, journals for said outer member carried by said inner member in the ends of said bore, a wheel hub structure in which the outer member is mounted to turn, and disk-like shield members attached to the ends of said outer member disposed around said journals, said members extending laterally outward substantially past the hub portion which is of maximum diameter, and being intended to be visible from the outer side of the wheel when the device is in operation for giving an amplified indication of the cushioned movement.

15. In a wheel mounting, a torsion joint comprising an inner member, an outer member, and an intermediate resilient member confined between the other members, said outer member having an eccentric bore in which the resilient member is disposed, journals for said outer member carried by said inner member in the ends of said bore, a wheel hub structure in which the outer member is mounted to turn by means of end ball bearings, and members carried at and by the end portions of said outer member which are intended to be visible from the outer side of the wheel when the device is in operation to give an amplified indication of the cushioned movement, said last-named members being mountable and demountable independently of said ball bearings and said journals.

16. In a wheel mounting, a torsion joint comprising an inner member, an outer member, and an intermediate resilient member confined between the other members, said outer member having an eccentric bore in which the resilient member is disposed, a supporting fork, means for setting said inner member in said fork in a predetermined angular adjustment, a wheel hub structure in which the outer member is mounted to turn by means of end ball bearings, said wheel hub structure having spoke-attaching flanges,

5 and shielding members of concavo convex' form having their convex faces outermost carried at the ends of said outerjoint member independently of said ball bearings, said shielding members being of larger diameter than said spoke-attaching flanges and having on their outer face'sindieating means intended to be visible from the side ofjthe wheel when the device-is in operationfor, giving an amplified indication of the cushioned movement. Q a 17. In a wheel mounting, a torsion joint comprising an innermember, an outer member, and an intermediate resilient member, said inner member being constituted by'an' axle, journals for said outer member carried by said axle, means fixed on the axle engaging and supportlngsaid journals, awheel hub structure in which the outer member is mounted to turn, and a supporting fork having engagement with said fixed means such that the torsion joint is mounted in the fork in a predetermined angular relation.

18. In a wheel mounting, a torsion joint comprising an inner member, an outer member, and an intermediate resilient member, said inner member being constituted by an axle, journals for said outer member carried by said axle, nuts fixed on the axle engaging and supporting said journals, a wheel hub structure in which the outer member is mounted to turn having spoke-attaching flanges, a supporting fork having engagement with said nuts such that the torsion joint is mounted in the fork in a predetermined angular relation, and means mounted around said journals and visible from the side of the wheel for giving an amplified indication of the cushioned movement comprising disk-like shield members carried by the ends of the outer member of the torsion joint around the journals extending laterally beyond the spoke-attaching flanges of the hub.

19. In a wheel mounting, a torsion joint comprising an inner axle member, an outer member, and an intermediate resilient member confined between the first two members, a wheel hub surrounding the outer member, ball bearings mounting the wheel hub for rotation with respect to said outer member each comprising race members, certain of said race members being screwed on the end portions of said outer joint member, said ball bearings further including locking means for said last-named race members, and shield members applied to the ends of the outer joint member and mountable and demountable without disturbing said locking means.

20. In a wheel mounting, the combination of a fixed axle, a hollow wheel hub, a torsion joint interposed between the axle and the wheel hub permitting an upward cushioned movement of the wheel through a predetermined distance, means for obtaining an amplified visual indication of the cushioned movement comprising a member associated with the outer portion of the torsion joint which is oscillated in arcs of relatively large radius, and means cooperating with an external support for locating said member in a predetermined angular initial adjustment.

21. In a wheel mounting, a torsion joint comprising an inner axle member, an outer member, and a resilient intermediate member, a Wheel hub surrounding the outer member, ball bearings mounting said wheel hub for rotation with respect to said outer member comprising raceways carried by the hub and other raceways screwed on the ends of the outer member, fastening means for the last-mentioned raceways screwed on the ends of the outer memben'and shield members carried by the outer member at its ends in juxta position to said fastening means so asto enclose the same, said shield members having inwardly directed portionsconforming generally to the shapeof the wheel at the sides of the wheel. 4

22., In a wheel mounting, a torsion joint having an inner or axle member, an intermediate resilient'member and an outer'memb'er to which the others have an eccentric location, a wheel hub:

turning on the outer member, a supporting fork, means" of engagement between the fork and the torsion joint whereby the joint when assembled with the fork always has a predetermined angular relation to the latter, and shielding membe'rs fixed on the ends of the outer joint member and in fixed angular relation to said member, said shielding members being of such size and visual characteristics as to give an amplified-indication of the movement of the torsion joint, 7

23. -In a wheel mounting, the combination of a fixed axle, a hollow wheel hub, a torsion joint structure including an outer member supportingv 1 visual indication means and having a predeter mined angular relation to the outer memberof the joint.

WALTER F. HEROLD. 

